A RESIDENT’S bid to keep and extend a raised decking area in their garden has been rejected due to its ‘unsightly’ appearance.

The retrospective application sought permission to retain decking built on a steel frame in the back garden of a house in Hawthorn Glade, Tanglewood, Blaina.

Under the plans the decking, which is 13.5-metres long and 4.5-metres wide – and 5.1-metres from footpath level – would have almost doubled in size to wrap around the garden.

South Wales Argus:

The decking around the garden of the house in Hawthorn Glade, Blaina. Picture: Blaenau Gwent council

The proposals aimed to make more of the garden useable and did not have objections from neighbouring properties.

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But planning officers recommended refusing the structure, calling it ‘unsightly’ and saying it would set an “undesirable precedent for similar structures throughout the estate.”

At a Blaenau Gwent council planning committee meeting on Thursday, Cllr Bernard Willis called the decking “the most appalling thing I have ever seen in my life.”

“If that was being built near my house I would be appalled,” he said.

“I think it is a dreadful thing to be looking at and in my view we should not be approving this application.”

But Cllr Lisa Winnett spoke in favour of the application.

“Many developments are quite similar,” she said.

“Tanglewood has some of the most diverse range of houses.

“I do not see an issue with the visual impact of this if planting is done on the outside.”

Cllr Wayne Hodgins also backed the plans if an “extensive screening” scheme could be put in place.

South Wales Argus:

The decking around the garden of the house in Hawthorn Glade, Blaina. Picture: Blaenau Gwent council

But planning officer Eirlys Hallett said the structure would be too big to effectively screen with planting.

Steve Smith, from the planning team, also questioned if the committee could be convinced the decking is “structurally sound.”

He said the authority had “no evidence” at present that it is.

Cllr David Wilkshire said the application was a ‘dilemma’ – but sided with planning officers believing the structure to look ‘unsightly.’

An amendment to approve the application, put forward by Cllr Winnett, was defeated by eight votes to seven, and the plans were rejected.